Latch



Patented June 6, I899.

M. DUVEN.

L AT 6 H (Applicatfion filed. Jan. 26, 1899.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOR WITNESSES UNITE STATES PATENT FFICE.

MATTHEW DUVEN, OF ALTO, \VISCONSIN.

LAT4C H SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,530, datedJune 6, 1899-.

Application filed January 26, 1899. Serial No. 703,485. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW DUVEN, of Alto, in the county of Fond du Lacand State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Latches; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to improvements in door latches and holders, and isespecially in-' tended to be used in connection with barndoors, thoughit is adapted to be used for other doors, windows, or gates Withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved latch and holder,hereinafter fully shown and described,and particularly pointed out inthe claims.

I11 the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a latchand holder embodying my invention, the door and doorframe being shown indotted lines. Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of the horizontalhandle. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of the latch.

The door Aand the door-frame or side of the barn B are shown in dottedlines. At one side of the door is situated a horizontal handle 0, havingone end provided with the diverging arms D, the ends of which areconnected byaweb E. The extremities of these arms are provided withbolt-openings, and the opposite ends of the handle are turned inward andprovided with a screw for attachment tothe door. The web is providedintermediate its ends with an elongated socket 6, having its inner endopen, and forms a bearing for the latch F. This latch F consists of ahandle H, preferably L shape in form, which passes through an opening inthe barn-door. A transversely-extending bearing G is at the end of thishandle, and projecting outward horizontally from each side of this"hearing are the arms I, provided with the shoulders J, adapted to coactwith and to catch against the shoulders K of the catch L. Extendingupward from the end of the bearing are the arms or shoulders M, whichrest against the door and hold the latch in its proper position to passwithin the catch L. r The handle of the latch by its own gravity holdsthe catch'end of the latch normally upward to coact with the catch uponthe door. This catch preferably consists of a plate with an opening N,the ends of the arms forming the opening having in wardly extendin gshoulders K to form catches, and these united by a transverse plate 0,set in the edge of the door-frame, as shown. In this way the catch isnot thrown out of position by the warping or twisting of the door-frameor door. Situated at the opposite side of the door is a vertical handleP, which is recessed at its inner side and receives the handle of thelatch within the recess, as clearly shown, whereby the handle ispractically out of sight and cannot be operated by being struck byanimals, as an ordinary latch can. The lower end of this handle isprovided with a pivotal opening Q, through which a screw or bolt passes,and the opposite end-of this handle is preferably provided with ahorizontal slot R. A

bolt S passes through this slot R and through the perforations oropenings in one of the arms of the horizontal handle, as shown,servingthe double purpose of securing that arm of the horizontal handle and theupper end of the vertical handle in position, and the slot R in thevertical handle enables this to be moved to either side for bringing thehandle of the latch properly within the recess of the vertical handleand free from any engagement therewith, which always insures itsaccurate and positive working. This vertical handle, as shown, isrecessed from end to end; but the recessed portion is only necessary atthe upper portion for the reception of the latch, it being recessedthroughout its length as a saving in material and weight.

vThe shouldered arms of the latch, as will be seen, extend between thediverging arms of the horizontal latch and are therefore protected, andthe latch is journaled through the medium of the web, which connects theends of these diverging arms, as before stated. One of the latch-armsserves as a medium to throw the latch out of engagement with the catchfrom that side of the door upon which the horizontal handle is situated,while the handle of the latch within the vertical handle at the oppositeside of the door serves by side of the door.

raising it to throw the latch out of engage Inent withithe catch.

By meansof a latch of the construction here 7 shown it is adapted forthe right or the left hand side of the door in that when it is at theleft-hand side of the door one of the arms is just outside of thediverging arms of the hori-' zontal handle and serves to engage thecatch upon the door-frame and the other arm is within the horizontalhandle to be operated by the fingers in opening the door, and viceversa, when'the latch is placed at'the opposite It will also be notedthat in a construction of this character the hori zontal handle servesas a pivotal support for the latch,- and thep'arts are easily andquickly adj nsted to a door by simply cutting an opening therein throughwhich the latch may pass.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim; and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is'

' 1. The combination with a door having a transverse opening,,of ahorizontal handle sit uated at one side of the door aiid havingdiverging arms, a transverse plate connecting the eh'ds of "saiddiverging arms, a latch ex tehding through the door from the oppositeside thereof and joiirnaled intermediate its ends-upon the saidtransverse plate of the horizontal handle, the latching end of thelatchprojecting in a line between the said diverging arms, and alatching-shoulder in a line drawn between the said diverging arms and atapoint outside of the journal of the latch, 'shb'stantially asdescribed.

2. A latch comprising a horizontal handle provided at one end withinwardly-diverging arms-secured to the door and supporting the haiYdl'eaway from the door, a latch passing through the door from the oppositeside there of and having alatching end extending be tween the divergingarms, whereby the latching 'eiid is protected by the horizontal handleand may be operated from either side of the door; substantially asdescribed. 3

3-. A latch comprising a horizontal handle having inwardly-extendingdiverging arms supporting the handle out of contact with the door; avertical handle at the opposite side of the door "with its upper endabove a line drawn through the door between said diverg ingarms, a latchpassing through the door to the opposite side and having its handle between the vertical'haiidle and the door, and its opposite latching endbetween the diverging arms ofthe horizontal handle, and a coactinglatching member situated on a line drawn between the diverging arm's,substantially as described.

4. A latch comprising a horizontal handle at one-side of the door, avertical handle at the-opposite side of the door, and a latching membercomprising handle situated within the vertical handle and a projectingcatching ,member at the opposite side of the door, substantially asdescribed.

5.' A latch comprising a horizontal handle, a vertical handle, thehorizontal handle having diverging arms, a latching member comprising ahandle situated within the vertical handle, a transverse journal at theend of the latching members handle, pivoted at a point between thediverging arms of the horizontal handle and'provided with aprojectingcatching member, and a bolt passing through one of thediverging arms of the horizontal handle and the adjacent end of thevertical handle, substantially as described.

6. A latch comprising a latching member having a handle, a transversepivotal member at the end of the handle provided with a projectingcatching member pivoted at one sideof the-door,- a vertical handle atthe-opposite side of thedoor provided with a recess at its inner sidewithin which the handle of the latch member is situated, substantiallyas described.

7. A latch comprising a vertical handle having a-recess at its innerside, a latching member provided with a handle situated withintherecess, the said handle having a pivotal member at its opposite sidewith a projecting catching member, the vertical handle having ahorizontal slot and a securing bolt or screw passing through the saidslot whereby the handle can be moved laterally in respect to the handleof the latching member for the purpose described.

8. A handle for a latch essentially U- shaped, in outline, one end ofthe handle having inwardly-diverging arms, and a web connecting the endsof the diverging arms, said web provided with a latch-journal, wherebythe space between the arms and said web is adapted to receive a latchingmember, substa'ntially as described.

In'testimon'y whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- MATTHEW DUVEN.

\Vitnesses:

F. R. SCHMANDT, WM. ARMSTRONG.

